Fellowship staff recently visited the city of Metula on the border between Israel and Lebanon after Hezbollah drones struck and damaged homes. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured. One of the homes that was hit belonged to 67-year-old Yelena.
Yelena’s husband passed away earlier this year, shortly before the war with Iran in February, and her two children live in the United States. Now, she lives alone in Metula.
At the time of the attack, Yelena heard no explosion, just the sound of shattering glass. A neighbor from the apartment upstairs rushed down to make sure she was safe. Thankfully, she was not injured, but she was trapped inside a room because the damaged doorway prevented her from opening the door. Moments later, emergency responders arrived and checked her for injuries.
Yelena stayed with a neighbor for several days before being relocated to a hotel. As frightening as the attack was, she says it wasn’t the hardest part of living in Metula.
She says, “The military bases are very close here, and these planes fly overhead – it feels like the noise is inside my head. But at least you know they’re ours, that they’re the good forces. It’s hard these days, but I don’t want to leave. People are afraid to leave their homes. If I need something, I order it online and my neighbor helps me.”
The Fellowship is helping cover Yelena’s travel expenses while she remains displaced from her home until repairs are completed. Even before the attack damaged her house, she was struggling without steady work or a reliable source of income.
From time to time, she receives phone calls from her son and daughter in the United States, both of whom teach ice skating. They grew up in Metula and remain deeply connected to their hometown.
Despite everything she has endured, Yelena is determined to remain in Metula alongside the neighbors who came to her aid when she needed it most.
